The Element TrialThe Rift to Luscuro #1af Julie Midtgaard

"If I could, I’d give it ten stars!"
"I was spellbound from the first page – and I still am."
"It’s like the book was written from a list of everything I love about fantasy."
- Goodreads reviewers
The flames of the fire dance and hiss. I writhe in my ropes. They tear at my skin. The voices of the mob resound in my mind: “Witch, witch, witch!” A dark rift cuts through the fire with a roar. The rift expands. Flames, embers, and ashes whirl into the darkness. I’m flung into the darkness as well.
In 17th century Denmark, witchcraft is a crime punishable by death. One day, a wanton accusation sends fourteen-year-old Dawn straight to the pyre, but the ravenous flames leave her unscathed. Instead, mysterious forces send her on a dangerous journey to Luscuro; a magical world ravaged by war and destruction. She can never return home, but will she find her place in Luscuro? To prove her worth, she must pass the Element Trial. Mighty forces are at work, and soon, Dawn uncovers a secret that someone will do anything to keep …
The Element Trial is the first book in the series The Rift to Luscuro. On her journey, Dawn discovers not only friendship and love – but enemies, a disastrous imbalance of power, and secrets much greater than any her hometown of Aalborg ever held.
The books in the Luscuro universe have been awarded the prizes YA Book of the Year at the Mofibo Awards and Danish Fantasy Book of the Year by Dansk Fantasy.
This fantasy favorite has captured the hearts of thousands of readers with its magical creatures, emotionally rich storytelling, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.
"It’s rare to find a story that feels both magical and deeply human – this one does."
"I couldn’t put the audiobook down – and I still can’t stop thinking about it."
"The worldbuilding is just brilliant. You can feel how alive it is."